George a



m, 4/ m f d f w W Wgffwy o @emo fo o r .c 7, O n O O e0 i* www yf/W i L .chusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements ment and combination ofthe racket, formed in twoA with metallic strips c c'c c, giving them the required Q tant @anni (time.

Wertes-W GEORGE A. PARKER, or wEs'rE'oRD, MASSACHUSETTS.'

I Leners Patent No. 85,689, dated Janna/ry 5, 1869.

INIPROVBMENT IN-HORSEFSHOES.

The Schedule referred to in chene Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it conge/m 'Be it known that I, GEORGE. A. PARKER, of Westford, in the county of Middlesex, and State of Massain- Horse-Rackets; and I do hereby declare -that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the lett `rs of reference marked thereon.

" The nature 'of my invention consists in the arrangeparts, they` being furnished with one or more treads,- and bound with metallic strips, being connected and fastened together by ahinge and spring; the object of this invention being to furnish a racket that can be easily and quickly operatedand secured, and worn by the animal 'without injuring or fretting him in the least. l

To enable others skilled: in the art to make and use my invention, I proceed to describe its .construction and operation. V

Figurel represents a plan of my improved horseracket. -Figure 2 represents a sideelevation of .the same.l

Figure 3 represents a vertical section of the same. Similar letters, inthe dierent iigu'res, indicate corresponding parts. p p

Iconstructmyimprovedhorse-racketof wood, formed in two parts, a and b, their outside edges being bound and desired strength.- These rackets are made in pairs, rights and lefts, of dierent sizes, as represented in the drawings, as being designed for the nigh front or hind foot.

Formed in and through the parts a and b is the foothole d, which is constructed the same for either pair of rackets, for the front or back feet of the animal, the centre of the hole d always being the nearest the hingeside and back part of the racket, thus leaving but a small portion of the bearing-surface on the inside and back` of the racket, and a larger portion in front and on the outside. By thus locating the hole d, the animal will notinterfere with the same in the least.

This foot-hold d is also formed as the shapeand size-A of the animals foot demands, being always larger rather than smaller, so that the back part t of the racket will not interfere with the pasterns or coronet of the same.

By this construction it will not chafe or irritate those parts.

The under part of the racket a is provided with one or more treads, e andf, which, when ,the racketis placed on the hoof of the animals foot, brings the tread e directly in the rear of the toe-calli of the shoe, gud the tread f further back towards the centre of the oot. A

The parts a and b are connected, on their inside, by the hinge g, which hinge, being so constructed with supports h h, gives additional' strength to the jointl .where required.

On their outside, thev parts a and b are, connected and fastened firmly together by means of the spring 'i and catch j, they being located on top of the same, and supplied with supports k J6.

The racket being thus constructed, and its several:

devices arranged in position, is then rady for use. The operator, in applying thev same, depresses the spring i, relieving it from the catch j, swinging the part b from rthe part a, then places the toe or front 1 part of the hoof between the treads e and f and botf -tom of the front part a, bringing the toe-calk'of the shoe directlyl in front of the tread e. He then swings i or closes the part b up'again'st the front part a, where it is firmly secured and held by the spring t' and catch j.

The racket'being thus secured to and operated by the animals foot on thefront part'of the hoof, where, whilst wearing the same, will not chafe or irritate the pasterns or coronet-in the least, as the part t-or any of the parts do not touch his skin; and he is enabled with this device to go over marshy, soft, or muddyA land, without sinking into the same, with ease, thus avoiding accidents resulting in loss of life orfbreaking of limb, besides allowing him' his entire strength tto work, rather than to keep his feet clear and free. What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

y The racket, consisting of parts wand b, hinge g, and spring fi, when arranged to operate as described, and

for thepurposes set forth.

. GEO. A.' PARKER.

Witnesses:

S. F. GLADWIN,

GEORGE E. Pnvnr. 

